Winter Wonderland
Regulus needs a gun.
He doesn’t care if it’s for everyone else or for himself. He just needs to fire a bullet out of a gun in the next two seconds or he’s going to pull all his hair out.
“Reg!” Lily runs through the wait-station plates piled in his hands, “New table.”
Regulus just looks after her not even bothering to reply. The thoughts are delayed for a second, it doesn’t fully fit him, when he does he throws his head back, “Are you fucking kidding me?” He mutters to no one but himself. He steps away from the wall, gritting his teeth until he reaches the door. Once he’s through he puts on his best impression of a smile, even if his hands are twitching behind him. It’s a random fucking Tuesday it shouldn’t be this busy, but he has a twelve top for some god-forsaken reason and there’s this fucking bitch at another one of his tables who kept asking about her order every two seconds, even though he just put the order in two minutes ago. Then of course, when he finally brought it out she claimed it wasn’t what she wanted and the fucking bitch next to her agreed even though Regulus wrote the order down perfectly. And he fucking swears he wants a comet to come down and blow this entire place up to smithereens while he’s inside of it. He doesn’t even fucking care anymore!
He comes up to his new table, it’s a four-top, and he’s sure they can tell how much stress he’s putting on his smile right now. “Hi! I’m Regulus I’ll be your server today, can I get you started with drinks?” He asks talking high-pitched, and in his perfect customer service voice. Okay, maybe not perfect but they have to fucking take what they can get at this point. He scribbles whatever they want on his order pad, even if he can easily memorize four drink orders. As soon as he turns away from the table he drops the smile, taking a deep breath. As soon as he does one of Peter’s tables sends him an annoyed look and waves their hand to flag him down.
As the good server that he is he turns and walks back into the kitchen without acknowledging them. It’s not his fucking problem. It’s not his fucking tips.
The drinks he actually needs to get are easy enough to get but it doesn’t stop him from getting more pissed off the longer that goes on. The rest is just routine. He brings it over to the table. Takes the rest of their orders. Glance around at his other tables and takes empty plates when he sees them. He checks in and asks how everything is going. He keeps his stupid fucking smile on even if it’s hurting his cheeks and only drops it when he knows no one can see him. He goes back into the kitchen to slide over his order to Marlene, who doesn’t bother saying anything probably too busy to care right now. Then he promptly walks straight into the walk-in and stands like an NPC in a really bad video game.
Simple.
He doesn’t need to get anything, of course, he’s just standing here. It even takes him a second to realize what he’s done, but by the time he does, he doesn’t care about leaving. He just takes a breath instead. Shoving his face in his hands. It’s just work. It’s just a shift. He needs the money. He needs tips. He needs to go back out there and just do the fucking shift, but he feels his eyes start to sting and he really fucking needs that gun.
“You okay?”
Regulus jumps out of his fucking skin, he really needs that gun. He turns around to find James standing in the doorway. “What do you want?”
Without another word James walks into the walk-in with him, closing the door behind him, silencing the noise of the rest of the kitchen. “You’re upset.”
“I’m fine,” Regulus snaps.
James gives him a pointed look, “I’m not even playing my music today, I thought it would put you in a good mood.”
“I’m going to kill myself,” Regulus deadpans.
James doesn’t even react, “So you do like my music then?”
Regulus sighs, gesturing in front of him, “Don’t you have work to do?”
“No,” James replies simply and leans on the wall behind him. “Talk to me.”
Regulus rolls his eyes looking over to the shelf next to him, “People are stupid.” He says, expecting that to be the end of it, but once he’s opened the box everything spills out. “It’s a fucking Tuesday and my section is completely full. I have a twelve-top who has been here over a fucking hour and have barely even started to eat yet. There’s that fucking bitch who sends back every order I give her at least ten times. My back hurts and I just want to blow this whole place up. I don’t even care about the tips anymore.”
James pauses before he says, “I’ll spit in their food if you want.”
Regulus quickly looks over at him, “What?”
“The people who are bothering you,” he says simply, like it’s the most sane solution to the problem.
Regulus blinks, “That’s all you got from that?”
James shrugs, “I can go out and yell at them if you want.”
Regulus scoffs, “You?”
He could maybe see Marlene going out there if he’s talking about one of the cooks anyway. He could easily go over to the dish room and steal Barty and Evan away and send them out onto the floor. There’s a reason they’re stuck back here in the kitchen. Pandora out on the floor is even pushing it, but James? He’d probably just end up giving them a free dessert for their “trouble.”
“Yeah,” James says, with no sign of hesitation. “If you wanted me to.”
Regulus almost wants to say yes, if only to see what he’d say. To see if he’s bluffing, he probably is, but Regulus doesn't know, there might be a side of James he’s never seen. They haven’t known each other that long. It’s possible.
He ends up shaking his head anyway, “No need,” he says, “I’ll just cry in front of them, try to get pity and maybe they’ll tip me more.”
James laughs softly, “Well, there you go.”
Regulus opens his mouth to say something else but nothing comes out. He just awkwardly stands in the middle of the fridge instead, it’s starting to get a little cold. It was nice at first, but now it’s too much, and he really should get back out there, but it’s quiet in here, and he hates to admit it but James isn’t a horrible presence here.
James doesn’t tell him to leave, and he doesn’t leave himself either. He doesn’t move, staying leaning against the wall, looking over at Regulus with that look in his eyes. Regulus doesn’t know exactly how to describe it, he doesn’t know what it means either. It’s a full look, his brown eyes wide looking over at him. Regulus has seen it with Kingsley too, when he gets too lost in thought.
“I should probably get back out there,” Regulus says, his shoulders slumping with his words.
James smiles shortly, “Do you feel a little better at least?”
Regulus' first instinct is to say yes, but then he realizes who exactly he’s talking to and imagines kicking himself over the head. He shakes his head, “You irritate me.”
James' smile just widens, before he nods pushing back on the door. Obnoxiously he gestures to the doorway for him to leave, “See you around, Reg.”
Regulus rolls his eyes, refusing to reply before walking off. The kitchen is loud, and he misses the calmness of the walk-in as soon as he walks back into the dining room.
“Reg! New table!” Peter calls out as he slides past him into the kitchen.
Regulus is gonna pull all his hair out. He’s not making it till the end of this shift. He’s gonna march straight to Alice’s office and quit on the spot. No two weeks' notice. Nothing. He might not even tell her, he’ll just walk out and that will simply be that. Nothing else.
❅❅❅
Regulus makes it to the end of the shift.
He makes it to the end of the shift and watches as everyone else finishes their jobs and leaves while he’s stuck because he has a vacuum and can’t do that until everyone leaves. Luckily for him, the last table sticking around is in his section and only leaves once most of the workers are gone. So by the time he actually cleans up for them, they had a toddler who threw all the trash on the ground just to drive Regulus crazy, everyone besides one of the teenagers is gone. Regulus doesn’t even really know his name, Jack? John? It doesn’t even matter. He nods over at him to tell him he’s done and he can start to sweep the floor quickly. Regulus would feel bad about how he has to sweep and mop while everyone else got to go home but he doesn’t find himself caring. He still has to go over to the closet to get the vacuum out anyway, and because they were so packed there were actually people back in this section and it’s a mess, because of fucking course it is. His shift couldn’t get any worse.
Except it definitely fucking can. Regulus should know better. He should’ve knocked on wood as soon as he had that thought.
His phone starts buzzing as soon as he starts wrapping up the cord for the vacuum. There’s only one person his phone is off do not disturb for, and only because he steals Regulus’ phone every time he turns it back on.
“What?” Regulus snaps putting his phone between his ear and shoulder.
Sirius sighs, “Don’t kill me.”
Regulus lets his shoulder drop, catching his phone before he says, “What?”
“I can’t pick you up today.”
Regulus blinks, letting it take a second for it to sink in before he exclaims, “ What!”
“I’m sorry!” Sirius tells him, “But I’m kinda three hours away and wouldn’t be able to make it.”
“Why the fuck are you three hours away?” Regulus shoves the vacuum into the closet not even caring if it’s neat.
“Moony and I went on a day trip,” Sirius explains, “We were trying to get a gift for Hope, and we found one but it wasn’t stocked anywhere except this one really small store and they don’t do shipping so we’d have to go and get it.”
Regulus wants to yell at him for not just getting something that’s easier to get, but he knows that won’t do anything. He’s thinking it though, and as soon as he sees him in person again he knows he won’t be able to stop it. Or maybe when he sees him in person again he’ll get his hands on a knife. Either way, he doesn’t mention it right now. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“We were trying to get back!” Sirius tells him, “We just lost track of time.” Before Regulus can say anything else Sirius says, “Can you just ask Kingsley to pick you up? He’s not far right.”
“I mean yeah, but I don’t want to bother him,” Regulus says.
“He’s your best friend,” Sirius says simply. “He’ll pick you up.”
Regulus doesn’t want to ask him. He feels stupid enough having to get Sirius to pick him up and he’s the one who suggested it. He doesn’t want to have to call Kingsley and ask for help. Kingsley will just do it because he feels obligated, and Regulus will just be the helpless person who needs a ride everywhere. It’s a stupid thought process to have but he doesn’t care.
“Fine,” he snaps anyway, it’s not like he can do anything about it. “Bye Sirius.”
“I lo-”
He hangs up on him before he can finish.
He doesn’t move at first, instead taking a deep breath and looking straight over at the door. He should clock out at the very least, but he honestly couldn’t care less right now. This isn’t even that big of a deal. It’s not like Sirius has been able to pick him up every single night after his shifts or anything. He’s gotten other people to drive him home before, but normally there are actually people here to ask, or Kingsley knew about it beforehand and Regulus didn’t have to feel as bad about it. Still, if this was a normal shift he would’ve just called him. Kingsley probably would’ve just invited Regulus over and they’d have dinner together, and everything would be fine. Now, though, after everything that this shift has brought him this just makes Regulus want to fall to a heap on the floor no matter how pathetic that sounds.
“Regulus?”
Regulus jumps, but he doesn’t bother to turn around, “Stop fucking doing that?”
He’s expecting to hear James laugh but instead, it’s silent. It brings him to turn around, to confirm that James is still there, which he is. Standing with his hands in his coat pockets and a concerned look on his face. “Sorry,” he mumbles, “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Regulus sighs, walking off, “It’s fine.” He clocks out on his way back to the lockers. Unsurprisingly James follows him, leaning on the wall as he gets his coat on.
“Is everything okay?” James asks.
Regulus wants to tell him, of course, it’s not you’re standing here, but he can’t bring himself to. Instead, he mutters, “My brother ditched me. He’s not picking me up.”
James hums shortly, “I could drive you home.”
Regulus doesn’t hesitate before shaking his head, “It’s fine,” he says, sliding out of the door. James is quick to follow him. “I mean it, James.”
“I don’t mind,” James calls out.
Regulus picks up his pace, he’s not even sure why it’s not like anyone is waiting for him. He’s not sure what he’s walking towards. Luckily he doesn’t need to figure out, or not so lucky considering James grabs his arm and spins him around to look at him.
“Regulus,” James says softly, “Why won’t you let me drive you home?”
If this was anyone else Regulus would be uncomfortable by their insistence, but also if this was anyone else he’d probably just agree to go with them. So maybe this is on him. He sighs before saying, “You live in the complete opposite direction than I do.”
James shrugs, smiling softly, “I don’t care.”
The awful part is Regulus knows he means it. Of course, James is just even more perfect than he already is, it’s irritating. Regulus debates saying no, but he really doesn’t want to call Kingsley to come get him. So he shrugs, “Okay fine.”
James’ smile widens, it reaches his eyes, “Good, come on.”
Regulus expects him to let go of his arm, but he doesn’t, as if he’s going to run from him. James does slip his hand down to Regulus’ wrist though, before dragging him over to the other side of the parking lot. Regulus should rip his hand away, but he doesn’t, he doesn’t know what that says about him.
James drives a red pickup truck. Regulus isn’t sure if he’s surprised by it or not. It feels exactly like James and yet the complete opposite too. James opens his door for him though, so he doesn’t think too much about it until he’s inside. There’s a little Spiderman keychain hanging on the rearview mirror, and Regulus changes his mind there’s no denying that this is James’ truck.
Two seconds later James is in the car and connecting his phone to the radio. Regulus almost stops him, preferring to drive in silence instead of whatever is on James’ phone, but he actually plays something slow. It’s a Christmas song Regulus doesn’t recognize but he’ll take it, even if he’d rather get through the entire season without listening to a single Christmas song. James doesn’t put the truck in drive when he puts his phone down, however, he turns to Regulus instead.
“You didn’t eat dinner right?” He says.
Regulus shakes his head, “You would’ve made my dinner if I ate it.” He says, not really thinking about what he’s asking him. It hits him right before James speaks again;
“Do you wanna stop somewhere?”
“I-”
“We don’t even have to get out of the car,” James says, “We’ll go to a drive-thru. I’ll buy you something.”
Regulus pauses before saying, “You’re gonna take me there no matter what I say aren’t you?”
James shakes his head softly, making his hair fall in front of his eyes until he pulls it back again, “No if you say no I’ll drive you home.”
Regulus bites the inside of his cheek. He should say no, but he also knows if he goes home he probably won’t eat at all. Everything in his house he has to cook and he’d rather just lie down in bed and not get up until morning. He finds himself nodding, “Okay, sure.”
“Okay?” James repeats surprised.
Regulus nods, “Drive before I change my mind.”
A smile spreads across James' face as he turns back and puts the truck in drive. “There’s a Wendy’s just five minutes from here if that’s okay.”
It’s in a different direction than both of their houses but Regulus nods anyway, “Sure.” He says, too stuck on James’ smile to really think much else. He’s seen it before, of course. He’s seen James throw his head back in a fit full of laughter like a child. He’s seen his secret smiles when he thinks no one is looking at him, and he’s seen him smile when he’s scared of shit out of Regulus but this is different. It’s warm, covered in the hue of the streetlights coming in through the windows. It’s soft, almost as if it’s placed in a snow globe or a really old Christmas movie drenched with nostalgia and joy not yet ruined by the passage of time. Regulus almost wants a picture of it, but he doesn’t want to think of the implications of that. Plus he thinks it would probably just ruin it. It won’t ever be the same with a replication.
They drive to the drive-thru without another word. They’re the only car there and they get through quickly.
James looks over at Regulus before ordering for himself, “What will it be?”
Regulus glances at the menu before saying, “I’ll get a burger with just cheese.” He’s never been one to really like toppings, and he doesn’t like condiments so it’s easier to just say nothing.
“Do you want a frosty?” James says, quickly answering his own question, “I’m gonna get you a frosty.”
Regulus opens his mouth to argue but before he can James is already sticking his head out of the window and ordering for the both of them. He ends up getting Regulus fries too even though he didn’t ask for it, but he really doesn’t seem to care about that. He gets pretty much the same thing for himself but with all the toppings on his burger.
When he’s fully back into the car Regulus says, “Why would you do that?”
James shrugs, “Bribe?”
Regulus freezes, “What did you do?”
James just smiles at him before turning to the first window.
“James, what did you do?”
He doesn’t answer his question until the bag of food is already on Regulus' lap and the frostys and drinks are in the cup holders. He pulls into one of the parking spots before grabbing the bag from Regulus and handing over his food silently.
“ James. ”
James unwraps his burger before he says, “I didn’t do anything yet.”
Regulus tilts his head, “But?”
“I had an idea,” James looks over at him.
“Okay.”
“Every time I drive to my place I pass this holiday light drive-through,” he says, “I’ve never gone through it but I was thinking we could.”
“Right now?” Regulus questions.
James nods, “If you want to.”
Regulus pauses in consideration before he says, “So you want to drive partially to your place and then turn around and go back to mine.”
“You’re acting like we live an hour away from each other,” James says, “It’s like twenty minutes max.”
They’ve never been to each other’s places, and Regulus doesn’t even know exactly where James lives but he knows the general direction, and he knows how long it takes him to get to work. So it’s a good enough estimate. He glances at the clock, not that he has anything else to do tonight but it is like eleven-thirty. He is off tomorrow though, and he’s not even tired. Not how much he thought he would be anyway after that shift. As soon as he left it seems he got all his energy back. All his stress melted away and now he’s completely fine, like none of that ever happened.
“We don’t have to if-”
“We can go,” Regulus cuts him off.
James goes quiet, “Really?” His voice is covered in surprise.
Regulus unwraps his burger, “If it’s bad you owe me fries during our next shift.”
James laughs softly, “Deal.” He leans over putting the music back on as he takes a bite of his burger. It’s mostly quiet after that, but not a bad kind of quiet. It’s a soft kind, a warm kind, it wraps around Regulus completely and he finds himself melting into it. He leans back in the chair, looking out the window across the street. There are trees covered with lights. Regulus hasn’t really paid that much attention to him. Even though he’s not the one driving on his way home he’s more focused on being able to lie down in bed. Plus it’s not like he cares about any of that stuff. He didn’t even decorate his apartment. The only thing he has is a little reindeer figurine that Sirius brought over one day. He found it at an old thrift shop, it’s ugly and the paint is chipping but he keeps it up so Sirius doesn’t bring more into his place, because he definitely would.
Before Regulus even realizes James is already done eating and tosses his things back in the bag before putting the car into reverse to get out of the parking lot. Regulus can’t tell if he’s just really excited to see the lights, or if he thinks Regulus will change his mind if he takes too long. Knowing James it’s probably both. Regulus finishes up his burger and throws it in the bag before moving over to his fries. While at a red light, James steals one, and Regulus is too late to bat his hand away.
“You had your own,” Regulus grumbles.
James smiles over at him, “I’ll make more for you later.”
Regulus rolls his eyes, “You better.”
James keeps looking at him, with that soft smile on his lips before the light turns red and he looks away again. Regulus should ask, but he doesn’t want to ruin anything. He keeps it to himself, looking out his own window, not saying anything until they’re pulling into the place.
“Have you ever been to one of these places before?” Regulus asks him.
James shakes his head, “Not one of the drive-through places,” he explains, pulling behind one of the cars in line. “There was this botanical garden my parents and I used to go to a lot when I was back home. They’d decorate all the trees and we’d walk through freezing the entire time, but it was an excuse to get hot chocolate so it was nice.”
“Can’t you still go?” Regulus asks.
“Oh yeah,” James says, “I just haven’t had the chance to go see them this month, and we’re not going on Christmas or anything. We might go after.”
Regulus opens his mouth to ask why he hasn’t seen them, it’s not like he can’t pick his days off. Frank and Alice are very good about that, if he needed a weekend or two off he could’ve gotten it. He’s been working a lot of weekends recently though, actually for Regulus it seems like James is always there. He can’t remember the last time he had a shift that James wasn’t there for. Before he can ask though James is pulling through to the booth and paying.
As soon as he’s done James pulls back and asks, “Have you?”
“Have I?”
“Gone to a place like this,” James asks, pulling forward and following behind the car in front of them.
Regulus shakes his head, “I don’t really do things like this?”
James gives him a questioning look.
“Holiday things,” Regulus explains, “Even when I was a kid we didn’t really do anything. We had parties but they were full of people I didn’t really care about.”
“Wasn’t your brother there?” James asks.
No one really knows how it was for Regulus growing up, and on purpose. The only person who really knows is Kingsley, but he was also around for the end of all that. He was there when Regulus left his parents. He was there when he met up with Sirius again. He kinda had to know what was going on. For everyone else though, Regulus finds himself running from his past. He doesn’t like bringing it up. He spent so much time letting it define him, he doesn’t want to do that again. He just wants to move on from it. He knows it’s built within his skin, and he knows it’ll always haunt him, but he doesn’t want it to become him. That being said he finds himself talking anyway. He’s not sure how James does it.
“For most of it,” Regulus says, “He ran away when I was fifteen so there were like five years that he wasn’t there for, and I had to fend for myself. Even when he was there though we didn’t really do that much to celebrate. Neither of us really liked it back then.”
If James is surprised he’s good at hiding it, he just nods letting Regulus talk for himself, not asking for more. “Do you do anything now?”
“My apartment isn’t even decorated,” he tells him. “I’m just waiting for it to pass.”
James scoffs, picking up his frosty, “Wait for it to pass?” he says, “You can’t just let the holidays pass.”
Regulus tosses his empty fry container in the bag before following suit and grabbing his own, “Why not?”
“It’s the holidays!” James exclaims, “You have to celebrate something!”
“My brother’s making me go to his stupid Christmas party,” Regulus suggests.
James gives him a pointed look, clearly that wasn’t the right answer, “Something you’ll actually enjoy.”
Regulus goes quiet before saying, “I’m doing this.”
“Well, I forced you into it,” James says. Regulus isn’t going to tell him he wasn’t forced at all. He’ll let James believe that, it’s probably for the better anyway. “You need to find some-”
“If you say holiday joy I’m going to kick you,” Regulus quickly cuts him off.
James just smiles brightly, “Christmas joy.”
Regulus hits him over the back of the head, “You’re obnoxious.”
“Yeah,” James hums.
Regulus shakes his head, “I just want to skip till New Year's.”
“Isn’t your birthday right after Christmas?” James says.
Regulus looks over at him, “How did you know that?”
James shrugs, “I know things.”
“I never told you that,” Regulus says.
James meets his eyes, “Mine’s March twenty-seventh.” He says, “There we’re even.”
Regulus rolls his eyes, looking away again, “I’ve never cared about my birthday.”
He’s not sure if he’d care about it if it wasn’t around Christmas, but it didn’t help that his birthday was right afterward. His parents didn’t want to have a whole other party for him. They just had the annual Christmas Party they were all “celebrated” out as they said. So his birthday always just came and went. Sirius celebrated with him, while he was around at least. Regulus can’t even remember the last time he celebrated it. Last year Kingsley got him a present and forced him to blow out a candle on a cupcake but Regulus still feels like he’s missed out. None of that matters anymore. He never grew an attachment to it. His birthday is just any other day.
James scoffs dramatically again, “No holidays, no birthdays, you’re missing out Reg.”
“Somehow I doubt that,” Regulus tells him.
“I’ll prove it to you!” James tells him, “I’ll fill you with so much holiday spirit you won’t know what to do with it.”
Regulus finds himself biting back a smile and he’s not even sure why, “Okay,” he says, “My brother has been trying for years and he hasn’t cracked me yet.”
“I have the special touch,” James tells him, “Trust me.”
Regulus looks back over and for a moment he can’t leave again. He gets stuck in James’ eyes and there’s no way to find the exit. He’s just sitting here, looking over at him and everything else falls away. James doesn’t break the eye contact, he looks over too, his eyes gleaming in all the pretty lights. Regulus has to force himself to look away, pulling away to look out of the window instead. Only now really focusing on the lights around them, even though that was the entire point of this whole thing.
As soon as he looks over at them they start going through a tunnel, surrounded by twinkling rainbow lights. He’s never cared for them before, and he doesn’t really care for them right now either but they sure are pretty. He thinks he could stay here for a while just looking at them. He could close his eyes just to feel them through his eyelids. Surrounded by a thousand little stars.
As if he’s reading his mind James murmurs, “They’re pretty.”
“Yeah,” Regulus replies, before looking back over at James, “Pretty.”
The whole thing isn’t very long. Maybe fifteen minutes to go through the entire thing. There’s Christmas music playing softly in the background the entire time, and Regulus feels James’ eyes on him every time he turns away. As far as holiday activities to do this isn’t the worst one to pick. He’s sure James has a bunch of ideas running rampant around his mind, and Regulus will pick up every single shift possible if it saves him from ice skating or something. He knows it’s passed James’ mind at least once. This is the first time he’s actually with James outside of work and somehow Regulus really doesn’t think it’ll be the last.
Maybe it’s because when they’re towards the end James mentions as he puts back his empty frosty cup, “You know, if your brother ever can’t pick you up I don’t mind dropping you off at home.”
Regulus looks back over at him, lost for a moment in the lights reflecting against his glasses, he shakes his head, “You don’t have to.”
“I want to,” James says, “It’ll give me more time to work on liking the holidays.”
Regulus doesn’t know what it is. He’s not sure if it’s the lights, or the fact that he’s been stuck in his truck with James for the past forty-five minutes and doesn’t want to rip his head off. He’s actually having a nice time, and it’s warm in here and the music playing is nice too. No matter what it is Regulus finds himself nodding before saying, “Okay.”
A smile widens on James’ face and he doesn’t ask Regulus to confirm probably because he doesn’t trust Regulus to not change his mind. In full transparency, Regulus isn’t even sure if he’s going to change his mind. There’s about a sixty percent chance he calls out of work the next time they work together so he doesn’t have to deal with the consequences of his own actions.
“Good,” James says, as he drives through the last stretch of lights before pulling out. Once he’s on the main road he says, “You’re gonna have to help me get there though.”
Regulus straightens in his seat, before putting his cup down, “Turn right up here.”
It takes less than ten minutes to get back to Regulus’ place. James pulls up right to the doors so he doesn’t have to walk that far out in the cold, and yet he still finds himself wanting to stay in the truck. He doesn’t know what that says about him. Instead, he forces himself to quickly unbuckle himself and slip out the door. He leans down to say, “Thank you for driving me.”
“Any time,” James smiles, and Regulus knows he means it. It does something to his chest that he doesn’t like.
Quickly before he can say anything else he says, “I’ll see you at work,” before closing the door and swiftly making it into his building. When he’s out of view he finds himself smiling softly to himself. It only lasts a few moments before he straightens his back and realizes what he’s doing.
Fuck what did he just let happen?